Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix

Cancer care

cancer diagnosis

Cervical cancer is largely a preventable disease often caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). If detected early, it can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers.

How common is cervical cancer?

Below are a series of statistics on cervical cancer to indicate how common the condition is and possible figures related to its treatment.

95%

of cervical cancer cases are preventable.

Other types of cancer screenings

Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.

Breast cancer

The cancer that affects women in South Africa the most

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in...

Cervical cancer

A disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the cervix

Cervical cancer is nearly always caused by infection with human papillomavirus...

Colorectal cancer

A disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the colon

Signs of colon cancer include blood in the stool or a change in bowel habits...

Prostate cancer

One of the most common types of cancer in men

Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in men that...

Skin cancer

A disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the skin

Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common in skin that..

Lung cancer

Cancer that begins in the lungs

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who...

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the cervix, and can often be found early. It’s possible to prevent cervical cancer, simply by having regular screening tests, and if detected early, it can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers.

A Pap test is commonly used to screen for cervical cancer.

Regular screening of women between the ages of 21 and 65 years with the Pap test decreases their chance of dying from cervical cancer.

A Pap test is a procedure to collect cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. A piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the cervix and vagina. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal. This procedure is called a Pap smear.

It’s possible to prevent cervical cancer, simply by having regular screening tests

After certain positive Pap test results, an HPV test may be done.

An HPV test is a laboratory test that is used to check for certain types of HPV (human papilloma virus) infection. Cells are collected from the cervix to find out if this type of infection is present, which is sometimes linked to cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time

An HPV test may be done with or without a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer.

Screening women aged 30 and older with both the Pap test and the HPV test every 5 years finds more cervical changes that can lead to cancer than screening with the Pap test alone. Screening with both the Pap test and the HPV test lowers the number of cases of cervical cancer.

Samples for an HPV test may be self-collected.

Samples for an HPV test may be collected by the patient using written instructions or in a clinic-based setting. The option for self-collection may improve access to cervical cancer screening, especially in communities with limited access to health care providers.

Find care for cervical cancer?

Find healthcare providers and facilities that specialise in treating cervical cancer.

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